Stranger Things is full of nods to horror author Stephen King’s work, but few viewers noticed the show's subtle reference to fellow horror legend John Carpenter’s adaptation of Christine. Debuting in 2016, Stranger Things was an instant hit with audiences and has since gone on to become a pop culture phenomenon. The success of the show should come as no surprise to fans of 80s pop culture, as the premise combines equal parts Steven Spielberg and Stephen King.
The series focuses on a small town with a dark secret, some plucky misfit kids with a psychic friend and a creepy interdimensional monster unleashed via shadowy government experiments. A combination of sci-fi, horror, and coming-of-age dramedy, Stranger Things has never been shy about acknowledging its influences. It often references Amblin Entertainment movies, ‘80s horror films, and the output of prolific scribe King.
However, not every reference Stranger Things makes to its ‘80s-era inspirations will be instantly familiar to viewers. Take, for example, the subtle King references dotted throughout the season 3 finale. Billy sabotaging the kid’s car (their only escape route from the Starcourt Mall) in the season 3 climax is a nod to The Shining, and actor Dacre Montgomery even stated his performance was influenced by Jack Nicholson’s unhinged turn as Jack Torrance. However, the shot revealing Billy’s Camaro with its headlights blazing in the night is cribbed directly from John Carpenter’s 1983 King adaptation Christine. The latter movie isn't nearly as iconic as Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, meaning many viewers may have missed this more subtle nod to King.
The shot is one of many Stranger Things moments that recreates a memorable piece of 1980s horror, much like supporting star Barb’s season 1 demise mirroring the one-sheet of Sam Raimi’s debut The Evil Dead. The slow zoom past the blazing headlights and into the car to reveal Billy glaring ahead is a perfect mirror of Carpenter’s Christine (although to be specific, Billy’s inspiration Arnie Cunningham is behind the wheel of a Plymouth Fury, rather than a Camaro). Season 3’s central anatomist Billy is a character built on countless references to King’s work.
From his introduction, Billy’s racist bullying and dark past as a victim of abuse by his father have clear parallels to Henry Bowers, the IT bully who acts as a recurring antagonist in that King novel. The Christine reference that appears late in season 3 is a visual nod to Carpenter’s underrated killer-car movie, but before Billy’s actor was even cast, he had added another Stephen King reference to Billy’s onscreen presence. In his unhinged self-made audition tape, Dacre Montgomery secured the role by reciting Kiefer Sutherland’s monologue as Stand By Me villain Ace, linking the Stranger Things character to yet another well-loved Stephen King property from the ‘80s.